Sunday, 2 July 2017

Gene McFadden born 2 July 1948

Gene McFadden (July 2, 1948 **– January 27, 2006) was an
American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as one of
the key members of the Philadelphia International record label, and was
one-half of the successful team of McFadden & Whitehead with John
Whitehead. They remain best known for the disco–era smash "Ain't No
Stoppin' Us Now."

Born in 1946, McFadden grew up in the same impoverished
Philadelphia neighbourhood as Whitehead. While in high school, they formed the
Epsilons with Whitehead's cousin Ronald Lowry (later a member of Frankie
Beverley's Maze) and Allen Beatty, and in 1966, Otis Redding saw the group
perform and hired them as his backing vocalists. The Epsilons also with James
Brown, Gloria Gaynor, the Intruders, the Jacksons, Gladys Knight & the
Pips, Melba Moore, People's Choice, Teddy Pendergrass, Lou Rawls and Stevie
Wonder and also Arthur Conley on his classic "Sweet Soul Music," but
following Redding's tragic death the group's fortunes waned, and after the 1968
Stax single "The Echo" they dissolved.

McFadden and Whitehead returned to Philadelphia, forming
Talk of the Town with James Knight and Lloyd Parks. Two singles, "Little
Bit of Your Lovin'" and "Don't Be So Mean," appeared on North
Bay in 1971; neither was a hit, and Whitehead went to work in the mailroom of
the fledgling Philadelphia International Records. He and McFadden also began
writing songs, eventually convincing Philadelphia International bosses Kenny
Gamble and Leon Huff to listen to their composition "Back Stabbers."
Recorded by the O'Jays in 1972, "Back Stabbers" would prove the
label's first gold record and a landmark in the evolution of Philly soul.

As writers and producers, McFadden and Whitehead would go
on to score 22 gold records, two platinum albums, and two Grammy nominations
over the next six years. In addition to the O'Jays' follow-up smash "For
the Love of Money," their hits included Harold Melvin & the Blue
Notes' "Wake Up Everybody" and "Where Are All My Friends,"
along with Archie Bell & the Drells' "Don't Let Love Get You
Down." The duo also revived their Talk of the Town project, releasing the
singles "Super Groover (All Night Mover)," "Bumpin'
Boogie," and "I Apologize" on the Philadelphia International
spinoffs Gamble and TSOP.

In 1978 they returned to the studio as simply McFadden
& Whitehead, recording "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" in one take.
Whitehead even made up most of the lyrics on the spot. The single was a global
blockbuster, topping the Billboard R&B charts and later becoming a Philadelphia
sports anthem, but the duo proved unable to generate a successful follow-up,
with "I Heard It in a Love Song" and "I've Been Pushed
Aside" barely scraping the charts.

According to the American Top 40 radio program for the
week ended August 4, 1979, Casey Kasem reported that McFadden and Whitehead
were in Chicago on May 25, 1979 promoting their music and doing various
interviews. Because they agreed to do one more music interview at the last
minute, they decided to reschedule their flight to Los Angeles to the next day,
May 26. They were originally scheduled to fly on American Airlines Flight 191
on May 25, which crashed shortly after takeoff from O'Hare International
Airport killing all 258 passengers plus the crew.

After 1982's Movin' On, McFadden & Whitehead went
their separate ways. Whitehead subsequently served a brief prison sentence for
tax evasion and issued a solo album, "I Need Money Bad", in 1988. He
and McFadden reunited for corporate functions and nostalgia shows in the 1990s.

On May 11, 2004, Whitehead was murdered on the street
outside of his Philadelphia home studio, while standing aside as a young man
made repairs on his SUV. There, he was shot once by one of several unknown
gunmen, who then fled. The case remains unsolved. Whitehead was 55 years old. This
reportedly took an extreme toll on McFadden, who was already battling the liver
and lung cancer that claimed his life on January 27, 2006.

“McFadden & Whitehead were instrumental in creating
the sound of Philadelphia,” Gamble & Huff said in a statement following
McFadden’s death. “Their talent was indispensable, and their music capabilities
were uniquely flexible.”

(Info mainly from Jason Ankeny @ All Music)(***some sources give birth date as 23 Jan,
1949 or 2 July. 1949. I have opted for the one mostly used)

Now here's an amazing find…… Great stagecraft of The
Epsilons singing The Echo from 1969/69

3 comments:

1. Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now (Album Version) 2. That Lets Me Know I'm In Love 3. I Got The Love 4. Do You Want To Dance? 5. I Heard It In A Love Song 6. Don't Feel Bad 7. Why Oh Why? 8. This Is My Song 9. I've Been Pushed Aside 10. Got To Change 11. You're My Someone To Love 12. Love Song No. 690 (Life's No Good Without You) 13. Ain’t No Stoppin Us Now (Philadelphia Eagles Version) (Bonus Track) 14. Rhythm Talk (Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now (Rap Version) (Bonus Track)

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I just love nostalgia, especially music from the 1920's to the 1960's.
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